Current Treatments for COPD

Jan 24, 2011
Robert McKelvie

Current Treatments for COPD - Nick Winchester

COPD has no cure but there are treatments for COPD that can really help. With medications and exercises a COPD patient can live fairly well.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease that makes breathing harder over time. COPD can involve emphysema, chronic bronchitis or both, and possibly chronic asthmatic bronchitis. Smoking is the major cause of COPD (80 to 90% of cases) and COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. The main symptom of COPD is shortness of breath when undertaking normal physical activities. Other common symptoms are coughing and coughing up large amounts of mucus, wheezing, and chest tightness. Shortness of breath may be severe and thus very alarming to the sufferer.

Stop Smoking to Enable Treatments for COPD to Work

Continuing to smoke will accelerate progression of the disease and undermine the effectiveness of treatments for COPD. So quitting smoking is the most important thing a COPD patient can do. Doctors can prescribe medicines and recommend programs that can help someone stop smoking.

See the Related Articles section for a brief review of permanent smoking cessation programs.

Various Medications are Used in COPD Treatments

The three main types of medications used to treat COPD symptoms include:

Bronchodilators, which relax the muscles around the bronchi making it easier to breathe
Corticosteroids, but these have only a limited role in the treatment of COPD and are normally reserved for patients with symptoms that are not responsive to bronchodilators
Antibiotics, used for exacerbations caused by bacterial infections

Guidelines for treatment of COPD recommend starting with aerosol bronchodilators which are inhaled and go directly into the lungs of the patient. There are different types and often patients will be prescribed both short-acting (“rescue”) and long-acting bronchodilators. The latter are usually prescribed for patients who have moderate to severe COPD.

Another treatment for COPD patients is long term oxygen therapy (LTOT), or supplemental oxygen at home, prescribed for patients who have a low oxygen saturation level in their blood (hypoxemia) because of poor gas exchange in the lungs. LTOT has been shown to extend the life of such patients who use it for 18 hours or more a day. It protects the heart and other organs from damage due to low oxygen levels in the blood and also facilitates a good night’s sleep, helping both physically and mentally. Some patients, however, may only need supplemental oxygen for exercise or sustained physical activity.

Other Treatments for COPD and Preventive Measures

One of the goals of COPD treatment is to improve the patient’s overall health to enable the patient to cope better with the chronic disease. A key strategy to attain this goal is exercise, including:

Aerobic exercise to improve lung function
Resistance exercise (strength training) to preserve and increase strength, endurance, and functional independence
Breathing exercises to learn to breathe better

Medically supervised pulmonary rehabilitation programs can help address these exercise needs and cover other needs as well, such as nutritional education and psychological counseling.

Another goal of COPD treatment is to prevent complications or treat them immediately. COPD patients are at high risk for complications from cold and flu viruses as well as pneumonia. Annual flu vaccines are a must unless they are contraindicated for some patients (due to allergic reactions, for example) and a pneumonia vaccination can be life saving.

Effective treatments for COPD are aided by the patient forging a close and good working relationship with a doctor or pulmonologist. The patient must also comply with all prescriptions and instructions to slow the progression of COPD.

There are surgical treatments for patients with severe COPD, from lung volume reduction surgeries to lung transplants. The Mayo Clinic, among others, specializes in both of these surgical treatments.

Current Treatments for COPD are Effective -- with Patient Compliance

COPD is not a happy condition (what chronic disease is?) but treatments for COPD can be effective if patients comply with prescribed medications, exercise regimens, and measures designed to minimize complications or exacerbations caused by flu, pneumonia or other illnesses. In order to have a higher quality of life, maintain functional independence, and have reasonable longevity, COPD sufferers need to work diligently to cope with their disease and improve their overall health.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.